Depression Facts and Statistics

Major depression, also known as clinical depression and major depressive disorder, is a type of mood disorder that is characterized by negative patterns of thoughts and emotions. Depression causes intense sadness that persists. It causes physical pains, changes in eating and sleeping habits, irritability, difficulty thinking, concentrating and making decisions, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Depression is a diagnosable mental health condition. It is chronic and cannot be cured, but with an accurate diagnosis and treatment, it can be managed and symptoms can be reduced, allowing an individual to carry on with a normal life and usual activities. Diagnosis should be made by a mental health professional, preferably a psychiatrist.

Treatment for major depression is usually multi-pronged. Antidepressant medications are commonly used, but the most effective treatment plan also includes some type of psychotherapy. In addition to therapy and medication, patients with depression benefit from support groups, support from friends and family, alternative therapies, and self-care. Depression is difficult to live with, but the prognosis is good for most patients. Dedicated treatment can help patients feel better and regain control over their lives. Here are some of the important statistics about depression in the U.S.:

• Within the last year, 16 million American adults, 6.9 percent of the population, experienced at least one episode of major depression.
• Mood disorders, which include depression, are the third most common cause of hospitalization for adults between the ages of 18 and 44 in the U.S.
• Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for people between the ages of 15 and 44.
• The average age of onset of depression is 32.
• About 1.5 percent of the U.S. population struggles with persistent depressive disorder, but only about 60 percent of these people get treatment.
• Women are 70 percent more likely than men to have depressive episodes.

The average age of onset of depression is 32, but teens, seniors, and even children may develop and struggle with depression. The symptoms can vary, though, and children with depression are more likely to experience sadness and irritability, physical aches and pains, and weight loss. Children may also show signs of depression through their behaviors, such as refusing to go to school or being clingy and needy with parents or siblings.

Teens with depression experience many of the same symptoms as adults, but distinguishing them from normal teen angst can be difficult. Some signs that depression is the issue include drug or alcohol use, loss of interest in activities, self-harm, social withdrawal, poor school performance, and being excessively sensitive. In older adults, depression may cause physical pains, memory problems, personality changes, and social isolation.

• As many as one in eight adolescents have major depression.
• One in 33 children will struggle with depression.
• Untreated depression is the greatest risk factor for youth suicide.
• Those at the greatest risk for suicide are young men aged 15 to 24.
• Six million older Americans struggle with depression, but only 10 percent get treated.
• Elderly men are more likely than women to have suicidal thoughts.
• More than half of caretakers of elderly family members have symptoms of major depression.

There are many factors that contribute to depression, from genetics and family history to physical health and stress. Research also shows there are disparities by race and ethnicity, although why these disparities exist is not exactly clear. Issues that create disparity may include increased stigma, lack of access to health care or health insurance, cultural insensitivity or language barriers in the healthcare setting, and using a primary physician for mental health care instead of a specialist.

• Rates of depression by race or ethnicity demonstrate that 6.4 percent of white Americans are diagnosed with depression as compared to 7.2 percent of Hispanics and 4.2 percent of African Americans.
• Seventy-three percent of whites diagnosed get treatment for depression, as compared to just 63 percent of Hispanics and 60 percent of African Americans.
• People of color are less likely to get quality mental health care for depression.

It is not uncommon for someone with clinical depression to have another mental health condition or a physical health condition, or both. In some cases, an illness may trigger depression, while in others depression can lead to complications and other mental and physical health problems. Any kind of serious, severe, chronic, or terminal illness can lead a patient to develop depression. Some of the more common illnesses that trigger depression are cancer and any condition that causes chronic pain or disability, such as fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis.

Commonly co-occurring mental health conditions include anxiety disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. It is not always possible to determine whether depression causes another condition, but it is possible, especially when depression goes untreated. For instance, depression can lead to substance use disorders, because some people use substances to self-medicate. With some health conditions, co-occurring depression affects many people:

• One quarter of cancer patients develops depression.
• One third of heart attack survivors will struggle with depression.
• Half of patients with Parkinson’s disease experiences depression.
• Fifty to 75 percent of eating disorder patients will have episodes of depression.
• More than one quarter of people with substance use disorders experience depression.

Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men, but when men do struggle with depressive episodes they often have a different experience. Many of the symptoms overlap, such as sadness, loss of interest in activities, and changes in diet and sleep, but there are also some symptoms men experience with depression that women do not. These symptoms are often overlooked and may account for some of the discrepancy in diagnoses between men and women: physical pains, like headaches and indigestion, anger and irritability, and reckless and impulsive behaviors.

Some other differences are that women tend to feel more guilt and shame than men and are more likely to blame themselves for difficulties. Women are more likely to feel anxious, while men are more likely to be suspicious. Women who are depressed tend to avoid conflict, while men may seek it out. Men may also experience more stigma associated with depression and may be less likely to reach out for help or admit to having symptoms. Here are some other statistics about depression and gender:

• Twelve percent of American women will have depression at some point in their lives.
• Women are more likely to struggle with depression after a divorce than men.
• More women are diagnosed with depression than men.
• Between 10 and 15 percent of women experience postpartum depression.
• Depression in women increases the risk of broken bones.
• Women may develop depression during the premenstrual period and during perimenopause.

According to the World Health Organization, depression is a major issue throughout the world and one of the most common mental illnesses. People in some countries face specific barriers to getting treatment. These include lack of resources and health professionals trained in mental health. Barriers also include stigma and misdiagnoses, which are common in many countries.

Depression has a big economic and social impact globally. It causes more disability than any other health condition, which means that depression reduces the ability to work in adults and to go to school and perform successfully in young people. Depression causes billions of dollars in lost work hours and productivity throughout the world. Here are some additional statistics about depression around the globe:

• Worldwide, depression is the leading cause of disability.
• More than 300 million people of all ages around the world live with depression.
• Nearly 800,000 people die of suicide around the world each year.
• Less than half of people struggling with depression get treatment.
• In some countries, less than 10 percent get treatment.
• The burden of all mental illnesses, including depression, is increasing.

The facts about depression demonstrate that this is a prevalent mental health issue in the U.S. and throughout the world. While different groups of people may have different experiences with depression, all have in common the need for high quality health care, accurate diagnosis, access to mental health professionals, and an effective treatment plan.

Depression Treatment at Bridges